Image sensor

ABSTRACT

In an image sensor, a front-end circuit provides an output signal indicative of the amount of light in response to at least one input signal. The front-end circuit includes a transistor having a threshold voltage that affects a relationship between the output signal and the level of the detection quantity. This transistor has a biasing node via which a biasing voltage can be applied to a semiconductor region that affects the threshold voltage of the transistor. A replica of the front-end circuit receives at least one defined input signal, among which is a substitute of the detection quantity having a defined level. The replica is arranged in a control loop that controls the biasing voltage that is applied to the biasing node in the replica, so that the replica provides a defined output signal. This biasing voltage is then also applied to the biasing node in the front-end circuit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention relates to an image sensor. The image sensormay be comprised in, for example, an integrated circuit, in particularin a low-voltage CMOS integrated circuit. The image sensor may form partof a device that should have low power consumption because, for example,the device is battery operated or must harvest energy from itsenvironment. Such a device may be, for example, a wireless sensor devicethat can transmit acquired image data to a base device. Another aspectof the invention relates to an image acquisition device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An image sensor typically comprises a two-dimensional array of photodetector circuits. A photo detector circuit may provide a detectionquantity having a level that depends on an amount of light to which thephoto detector circuit has been exposed during a photo detection timeinterval. A front-end circuit receives the detection quantity that thephoto detector circuit provides. In response, the front-end circuitprovides an output signal indicative of the amount of light.

The front-end circuit defines a relationship between the output signaland the level of the detection quantity. For example, the front-endcircuit may provide a pulse having a width, or rather duration, thatdepends on the level of the detection quantity. A given level ofmagnitude is converted into a given duration of time. The output signalof the front-end circuit may be processed so as to obtain, for example,a pixel value. For example, the width of the aforementioned pulse may beconverted into a digital value by means of a counter.

The article entitled “A 0.5 V Sub-Microwatt CMOS Image Sensor withPulse-Width Modulation Read-Out” by Scott Hanson et al., published inthe IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 45, No. 4, April 2010,describes an image sensor with pulse-width modulation read-out. In thisimage sensor, a pixel structure comprises a two-transistor comparator.This comparator constitutes a front-end circuit, which is coupled to aphoto detector circuit as described hereinbefore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for a solution that allows an image sensor to providesatisfactory image quality, in particular at relatively low operatingvoltages.

In order to better address this need, the following points have beentaken into consideration.

Process variations, which are inherent to semiconductor manufacturing,may potentially impair a proper functioning of the image sensor asdescribed hereinbefore. This can be due to the following. The front-endcircuit may comprise a transistor having a threshold voltage thataffects the relationship between the output signal and the level of thedetection quantity. There may be significant variations in transistorthreshold voltages from, for example, one batch to another, from onesilicon wafer to another, and even from one silicon die to another.

For example, the two-transistor comparator described in theaforementioned article has a comparator threshold level that depends onthe respective threshold voltages of the two transistors that make upthis comparator. Process variations may then make that one specimen ofthe comparator may provide a relatively wide pulse for a given level ofthe photo detection quantity, whereas another specimen may provide arelatively narrow pulse for the same given level. It may even be that aspecimen is incapable of providing a pulse for a given level. Thisphenomenon may cause a reduction in dynamic range due to this outputvariability, which can be significant, and may even render the imagesensor useless in practice.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided animage sensor as claimed in claim 1, which is appended to thedescription. Another aspect of the invention concerns an imageacquisition device comprising such an image sensor.

In such an image sensor, a biasing voltage is applied to a semiconductorregion that affects the threshold voltage of the transistor, which, inturn, affects the relationship between the output signal and the levelof the detection quantity. A biasing circuit that comprises a replica ofthe front-end circuit provides this biasing voltage. The replicareceives at least one defined input signal among which is a substituteof the detection quantity having a defined level. The replica isarranged in a control loop that controls the biasing voltage applied tothe semiconductor region in the replica, so that the replica provides adefined output signal. This biasing circuit voltage is then also appliedto the semiconductor region in the front-end circuit.

In effect, the biasing circuit calibrates the replica of the front-endcircuit by controlling the biasing voltage that is applied to thesemiconductor region affecting the threshold voltage. This calibrationis then transposed to the front-end circuit by applying the biasingvoltage to the semiconductor region in the front-end circuit. Thebiasing voltage may also be applied to other front-end circuits of otherpixel sensors, which is tantamount to a collective calibration of pixelsensors in the image sensor that compensates for overall variations.This biasing scheme reduces the extent to which variations in thresholdvoltages affect the relationship between the output signal, which thefront-end circuit provides, and the level of the detection quantity,which the photo detection circuit provides. This contributes toobtaining a satisfactory image quality.

An embodiment of the invention may comprise one or more additionalfeatures as defined in dependent claims, which are appended to thedescription.

For the purpose of illustration, a detailed description of someembodiments of the invention is presented with reference to accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an image acquisition device, which is schematicallyrepresented in a block diagram.

FIG. 2 illustrates an image sensor, which is schematically representedin a block diagram.

FIG. 3 illustrates a pixel sensor, which is schematically represented ina circuit diagram.

FIG. 4 illustrates various control signals for the pixel sensor, whichare schematically represented in a time diagram.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first variant of the pixel sensor, which isschematically represented in a circuit diagram.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second variant of the pixel sensor, which isschematically represented in a circuit diagram.

FIG. 7 illustrates a third variant of the pixel sensor, which isschematically represented in a circuit diagram.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative pixel sensor, which is schematicallyrepresented in a circuit diagram.

FIG. 9 illustrates a first variant of the alternative pixel sensor,which is schematically represented in a circuit diagram.

FIG. 10 illustrates a second variant of the alternative pixel sensor,which is schematically represented in a circuit diagram.

FIG. 11 illustrates a third variant of the alternative pixel sensor,which is schematically represented in a circuit diagram.

FIG. 12 illustrates an analog pixel sensor, which is schematicallyrepresented in a circuit diagram.

FIG. 13 illustrates a variant of the analog pixel sensor, which isschematically represented in a circuit diagram.

FIG. 14 illustrates a biasing circuit, which is schematicallyrepresented in a circuit diagram.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an image acquisition device 100, which isschematically represented in a block diagram. The image acquisitiondevice 100 comprises a lens arrangement 101 and an image sensor 102. Theimage acquisition device 100 may further comprise a communicationinterface 103 and a device controller 104. The image sensor 102, thecommunication interface 103, and the device controller 104 may becomprised in, for example, a single integrated circuit. This integratedcircuit then constitutes a so-called “System-on-Chip”, whereby the imagesensor 102 may constitute a so-called semiconductor IP block, IP beingan acronym for “Intellectual Property”.

The image acquisition device 100 may be battery operated, or may harvestenergy from its environment, or both. For example, the image acquisitiondevice 100 may constitute a wireless sensor node in a system thatcomprises various wireless sensor nodes, which may be similar. Such asystem typically comprises a base device, which collects image data fromone or more wireless sensor nodes. In such a system, the imageacquisition device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may communicate with thebase device through the communication interface 103, typically accordingto a wireless communication protocol.

Low power consumption is desired, in particular if the image acquisitiondevice 100 is battery operated, or harvests energy from its environment.Low-power consumption can be achieved by forming the image sensor 102,as well as other circuits, in a CMOS integrated circuit using a modern,high resolution, manufacturing process; CMOS being an acronym forComplementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. This CMOS integrated circuit isthen preferably operated at a low supply voltage, which may be less than1 V, V representing Volt.

However, low power consumption typically comes at an expense ofrelatively poor image quality. The image sensor 102 may provide an imagethat suffers from various artifacts, such as, for example, fixed patternnoise, photo response non-uniformity, and temporal noise. The image willtypically have a relatively small dynamic range, as well as a relativelysmall signal-to-noise ratio. The image sensor 102 that will be describedhereinafter comprises solutions that allow better image quality at lowpower consumption.

FIG. 2 illustrates the image sensor 102, which is schematicallyrepresented in a block diagram. The image sensor 102 comprises a matrixof pixel sensors 201, a conversion module 202, and a control andinterface module 203. The pixel sensors are arranged in rows andcolumns. In FIG. 2, a pixel sensor is schematically represented by asquare. A pixel sensor uniquely belongs to a particular row and aparticular column.

The image sensor 102 may operate as follows. The control and interfacemodule 203 sequentially selects one row of pixel sensors from the matrixof pixel sensors 201. A pixel sensor in a selected row provides anoutput signal that is representative of an amount of light to which thepixel sensor has been exposed. The selected row of pixel sensors thusprovides an array of output signals in a column-parallel fashion. Theconversion module 202 converts this array of output signals into anarray of digital values. The control and interface module 203 can forman image by sequentially selecting respective rows of pixels in thematrix of pixel sensors 201. The image is in the form of a matrix ofdigital values. A digital value is associated with a pixel sensor andrepresents the amount of light to which the pixel sensor has beenexposed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a pixel sensor 300, which is schematicallyrepresented in a circuit diagram. The pixel sensor 300 belongs to a rowand a column in the matrix of pixel sensors 201 illustrated in FIG. 2.Other pixel sensors of this matrix may be similar to the pixel sensor300 illustrated in FIG. 3. That is, the pixel sensor 300 illustrated inFIG. 3 may represent any of the pixel sensors in the matrix 201.

FIG. 3 further illustrates a binary driver circuit 301, whichconstitutes a switchable biasing arrangement for the pixel sensor 300,as well as and as for other pixel sensors belonging to the same row.FIG. 3 further illustrates a readout line 302 that couples the pixelsensor 300 to the conversion module 202 illustrated in FIG. 2. Thisreadout line 302 also couples other pixel sensors belonging to the samecolumn to the conversion module 202.

The pixel sensor 300 receives a supply voltage through a pair of powersupply lines 303, 304, one of which can be a positive power supply line303 on which a positive supply voltage can be present. The other powersupply line can be a signal ground line 304 on which signal ground canbe present.

The pixel sensor 300 comprises various functional parts: a photodetector circuit 305, a front-end circuit 306, and an output switchcircuit 307. For each of these circuits, FIG. 3 illustrates details thatrepresent a particular embodiment. These embodiments will be discussedin greater detail hereinafter, as well as alternative embodiments. It isnoted that the embodiments comprise transistors of the CMOS type, whichtypically comprise two main nodes, in the form of a source and a drain,and a control node, in the form of a gate. The source may also beconsidered as a reference node. The drain may be considered as an outputnode. For the sake of simplicity and convenience, it is assumed thateach transistor of the embodiments described hereinafter comprises agate, a source, and a drain.

The pixel sensor 300 basically operates as follows. The photo detectorcircuit 305 provides a photo detection voltage 308. The photo detectionvoltage 308 has a level that depends on an amount of light to which thephoto detector circuit 305 has been exposed during a photo detectiontime interval. The front-end circuit 306 receives the photo detectionvoltage 308 and, in response, provides an output signal 309 that isrepresentative of the photo detection voltage 308. The output switchcircuit 307 can transfer this output signal 309 to the readout line 302.

In more detail, the photo detector circuit 305 comprises aphotosensitive device 310 and a reset circuit 311. The photosensitivedevice 310 may be in the form of, for example, a photodiode, asillustrated in FIG. 3. The reset circuit 311 may be in the form of, forexample, a reset transistor as illustrated in FIG. 3. The photosensitivedevice 310 and the reset circuit 311 will therefore hereinafter bereferred to as photodiode 310 and reset transistor 311, respectively,for reasons of convenience. An interconnection node between thephotodiode 310 and the reset transistor 311 constitutes a photodetection node 312. The photo detection node 312 has a capacitance withrespect to signal ground and can therefore be said to be capacitive. Thephoto detection voltage 308 occurs at the photo detection node 312.

The gate of the reset transistor 311 is coupled to the control andinterface module 203 via a reset line 313. This reset line 313 alsocouples other reset transistors of other pixel sensors belonging to thesame row to the control and interface module 203. The drain of the resettransistor 311 is coupled to the positive power supply line 303. Thesource is coupled to the photo detection node 312.

The front-end circuit 306 comprises two transistors arranged in seriesbetween the pair of power supply lines 303, 304: an input transistor 314and a complementary transistor 315. The gate of the input transistor 314is coupled to the photo detection node 312 of the photo detector circuit305. That is, the gate of the input transistor 314 is coupled to receivethe photo detection voltage 308 on this node. The gate of thecomplementary transistor 315 is coupled to the control and interfacemodule 203 through a reference line 316. This reference line 316 alsocouples other complementary transistors of other pixel sensors belongingto the same row to the control and interface module 203. The source ofthe complementary transistor 315 is coupled to the positive power supplyline 303. The respective drains of the input transistor 314 and thecomplementary transistor 315 are coupled to each other and constitute anoutput node 317 of the front-end circuit 306. The output signal 309representative of the photo detection voltage 308 occurs of this outputnode 317. This will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the complementary transistor315 is formed in a well 318. More specifically, the input transistor 314is of the N-type and the complementary transistor 315 is of the P-type.That is, the input transistor 314 is an NMOS transistor and thecomplementary transistor 315 is a PMOS transistor which is formed in anN-well 318. The well 318 has an N-type doping and lies in a P-dopedsubstrate. The input transistor 314 may be directly formed in thissubstrate.

A particular feature of the front-end circuit 306 is that the well 318of the complementary transistor 315 is coupled to an adaptive biasingcircuit via a biasing line 319. The biasing circuit generates a wellbiasing voltage 320, which is applied to the well 318 of thecomplementary transistor 315 through the biasing line 319. This biasingline 319 may also couple the adaptive biasing circuit to respectivewells of other complementary transistors of other pixel sensors in thepixel sensor 300, irrespective of whether such another pixel sensor 300belongs to the same column for the same row, or not. The respectivewells of the other complementary transistors of the other pixel sensorsmay thus also receive the well biasing voltage 320 from the adaptivebiasing circuit. This biasing scheme, which involves the adaptivebiasing circuit that will be described in greater detail hereinafter,allows a significant improvement in image quality.

A further particular feature of the front-end circuit 306 is that thesource of the input transistor 314 is coupled to a gating line 321,rather than being coupled to the signal ground line 304. The gating line321 couples the source of the input transistor 314 to the binary drivercircuit 301 illustrated in FIG. 3. This gating line 321 also couples thebinary driver circuit 301 to respective sources of other inputtransistors of other pixel sensors belonging to the same row. Thisgating scheme, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter,also allows a significant improvement in image quality.

The output switch circuit 307 comprises a buffer transistor 322 and aswitch transistor 323, which may both be of the P-type. The gate of thebuffer transistor 322 is coupled to the output node 317 of the front-endcircuit 306. The source of this transistor is coupled to the positivepower supply line 303, and its drain is coupled to the readout line 302via the switch transistor 323. The gate of the switch transistor 323 iscoupled to the control and interface module 203 illustrated in FIG. 2via a readout-enabling line 324. This readout-enabling line 324 alsoextends to respective gates of other switch transistors of other pixelsensors that belong to the same row.

FIG. 4 illustrates various control signals for the pixel sensor 300,which are schematically represented in a time diagram. The time diagramhas a horizontal axis that represents time T, and a vertical axis thatrepresents signal level L. The time diagram is divided into respectivehorizontal sections representing respective control signals. Anuppermost section represents a reset signal 401, which occurs on thereset line 313 mentioned hereinbefore and illustrated in FIG. 3. Anupper middle section represents a reference signal 402, which occurs onthe reference line 316 mentioned hereinbefore and illustrated in FIG. 3.A lower middle section represents a gating signal 403, which occurs onthe gating line 321 mentioned hereinbefore and illustrated in FIG. 3. Alowermost section represents a readout enabling signal 404, which occurson the readout-enabling line 324 mentioned hereinbefore and illustratedin FIG. 3. Further details of operation of the pixel sensor 300illustrated in FIG. 3 can be elucidated with reference to the controlsignals illustrated in FIG. 4.

In a reset time interval 405, the reset signal 401 has a high level 406.This puts the reset transistor 311 in a conducting state. As a result,the photo detection node 312 is coupled to the positive power supplyline 303. A reset biasing voltage, which may be close in level to thepositive supply voltage, is thus forced upon the photo detection node312. The reset time interval 405 ends at an instant 407, which will bereferred to as reset end 407 hereinafter. At the reset end 407, thelevel of the photo detection voltage 308 will thus correspond to thereset biasing voltage. At this instant, the reset signal 401 exhibits atransition from the high level 406 to a low level 409. This puts thereset transistor 311 in a non-conducting state; the reset biasingvoltage is no longer enforced on the photo detection node 312.

The reset time interval 405 is followed by a photo detection timeinterval 410. The photo detection time interval 410 starts at an instant411, which will be referred to as photo detection start 411 hereinafter.The photo detection start 411 may correspond with the reset end 407, asillustrated in FIG. 4. The photo detection time interval 410 ends at aninstant 412, which will be referred to as photo detection end 412hereinafter.

During the photo detection time interval 410, the photodiode 310 isexposed to a particular spatial portion of the projected light from thelens arrangement 101. In response to this projected light portion, thephotodiode 310 provides a photo current that continuously discharges thephoto detection node 312 throughout the photo detection time interval410. The photo current has a magnitude that depends on an intensitylevel of the projected light portion to which the photodiode 310 isexposed. This light intensity thus determines a rate at which the photodetection node 312 is discharged.

At the photo detection end 412, the level of the photo detection voltage308 thus reflects an amount of light to which the photodiode 310 hasbeen exposed during the photo detection time interval 410. The amount oflight is a product of the light intensity and the photo detection timeinterval 410 in terms of duration. The higher the intensity level is,the greater the amount of light to which the photodiode 310 is exposed,and the lower the level of the photo detection voltage 308 will be.

In practice, several leakage currents will discharge the photo detectionnode 312, in addition to the photo current. In dark conditions, theprojected light portion to which the photodiode 310 is exposed may havea relatively low intensity level. The magnitude of the photo current maythen be so small that the leakage currents dominate. The photo currentis then effectively masked by leakage currents. The leakage currentsthus determine a level of sensitivity of the pixel sensor 300. Thesmaller the leakage currents are, the more sensitive the pixel sensor300 will be.

The photodiode 310 itself produces a leakage current. Namely, thephotodiode 310 produces a current even when the photodiode 310 is notexposed to any light. This leakage current can therefore be referred toas dark current. The input transistor 314 also produces a leakagecurrent: the gate of the input transistor 314 draws current from thephoto detection node 312. In conventional pixel sensors, this gateleakage current is generally significantly smaller than the dark currentof the photodiode 310. The photodiode 310, or rather its dark current,will substantially determine the level of sensitivity of such a pixelsensor 300.

However, in the pixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3, the gate leakagecurrent of the input transistor 314 may be significant, dominating thedark current of the photodiode 310. The gate leakage current of theinput transistor 314 can be relatively large because, for example, thepixel sensor 300 may be manufactured using a modern CMOS technology,with nanometer resolution, allowing low voltage operation. What can makematters worse, is that the photosensitive device will typically have arelatively poor efficiency if manufactured with such a technology. Thephotosensitive device will produce a relatively small photo current fora given intensity of incident light. It should be noted that the gateleakage current can be reduced by downsizing the input transistor 314.However, this leads to greater mismatch between pixel sensors, whichgenerally exacerbates other artifacts, such as, for example, fixedpattern noise.

The relatively large gate leakage current of the input transistor 314may thus potentially cause the pixel sensor 300 to have a relativelypoor level of sensitivity. The gate leakage current may even make thepixel sensor 300 insensitive, that is, incapable of operating properlyunder weak light conditions. The gate leakage current may be so largethat this current is still significant compared with the photo currentunder normal light conditions. Extending this to the image sensor 102illustrated in FIG. 2, it may then not be possible to acquire an imageof satisfactory quality under normal light conditions.

The relatively large gate leakage current of the input transistor 314may even exacerbate other image artifacts, such as, for example, fixedpattern noise, dark signal non uniformity and photo response nonuniformity. This is because gate leakage currents present a relativelylarge statistical distribution. A gate leakage current of a MOStransistor may deviate from a nominal value within a considerably widerange.

The following feature can alleviate at least one of the aforementionedimage-capturing problems, which the gate leakage current of the inputtransistor 314 may cause. The gating signal 403 has a high level 413during the photo detection time interval 410. This high level 413 maycorrespond with the reset biasing voltage, or a voltage close thereto.As illustrated in FIG. 3, and indicated hereinbefore, the gating signal403 is present on the source of the input transistor 314. Consequently,the reset biasing voltage, or a voltage close thereto, is enforced onthe source of the input transistor 314 during the photo detection timeinterval 410. The gate of the input transistor 314 receives the photodetection voltage 308, which corresponds with the reset biasing voltageat the photo detection start 411.

Thus, at least at the photo detection start 411, there is only arelatively small difference in voltage between the gate and the sourceof the input transistor 314. Both these nodes are at the reset biasingvoltage, or a voltage close thereto. The difference in voltage may beconsidered to be relatively small if, for example, the difference isless than 25% or, more preferably, less than 10% of the supply voltage.Moreover, there is also such a relatively small difference in voltagebetween the gate and the drain of the input transistor 314, which is ata voltage close to the positive supply voltage like the reset biasingvoltage. This significantly reduces the gate leakage current, at leastat the photo detection start 411, which allows a satisfactory level ofsensitivity and may counter other image artifacts. The pixel sensor 300illustrated in FIG. 3 can thus provide a satisfactory image qualitywhile being designed for low power and low cost. A significantimprovement in image quality is achieved respect to a variant of thepixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the source of the inputtransistor 314 is simply coupled to the signal ground line 304.

It should be noted that the difference in voltage between the gate andthe source of the input transistor 314 may gradually increase over timeduring the photo detection time interval 410. This is because, on theone hand, the source of the input transistor 314 continues to receivethe reset biasing voltage, or a voltage close thereto, throughout thephoto detection time interval 410. On the other hand, the gate of theinput transistor 314 receives the photo detection voltage 308, whichwill gradually decrease in level starting from the reset biasing voltageduring the photo detection time interval 410. This decrease is due tothe photo current from the photodiode 310, which discharges the photodetection node 312, as explained hereinbefore. As a result, the gateleakage current, which is relatively small at the photo detection start411, may nevertheless gradually increase during the photo detection timeinterval 410.

Such a gradual increase of the gate leakage current during the photodetection time interval 410 does not significantly affect image quality.Namely, this gradual increase occurs at a rate corresponding with therate at which the photo detection node 312 is discharged by the photocurrent. As explained hereinbefore, the rate at which the photodetection node 312 is discharged depends on the level of intensity ofthe projected light portion to which the photodiode 310 is exposed. Thatis, it is under strong light conditions only that the gate leakagecurrent may significantly increase. However, in these conditions, thephoto current will dominate over the gate leakage current, whichprevents the gate leakage current from significantly affecting imagequality. Under weak light conditions, the gate leakage current willexhibit a relatively small increase only, which also prevents the gateleakage current from significantly affecting image quality.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the photo detection time interval 410 isfollowed by a readout time interval 414. The readout time interval 414starts at an instant 415, which will be referred to as readout start 415hereinafter. The readout start 415 may correspond with the photodetection end 412, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The readout time interval414 ends at an instant 416, which will be referred to as readout end 416hereinafter.

The gating signal 403 has a low level 417 during the readout timeinterval 414. The low level 417 may correspond with signal ground.Referring to FIG. 3, the source of the input transistor 314 can beregarded as being coupled to the signal ground line 304. That is, thesource can be considered to be at signal ground.

The readout enabling signal 404, which occurs on the readout-enablingline 324 illustrated in FIG. 3, is at a low level 418 during the readouttime interval 414. The readout enabling signal 404 may be at a highlevel 419 outside this time interval. The readout enabling signal 404controls the switch transistor 323 illustrated in FIG. 3, which receivesthis signal at its gate. The readout enabling signal 404 causes theswitch transistor 323 to form a conducting circuit during the readouttime interval 414. The buffer transistor 322 can thus present on thereadout line 302 an inverted version of the output signal 309 from thefront-end circuit 306. This signal is representative of the photodetection voltage 308, as mentioned hereinbefore. The readout enablingsignal 404 may cause the switch transistor 323 to form a non-conductingcircuit outside readout time interval 414. In effect, the pixel sensor300 is then decoupled from the readout line 302.

The reference signal 402, which occurs on the reference line 316illustrated in FIG. 3, constitutes an input signal for the front-endcircuit 306. FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the front-endcircuit 306 comprises a comparator. The input transistor 314 and thecomplementary transistor 315 form this comparator, which has a pair ofcomparator inputs. The gate of the input transistor 314 constitutes onecomparator input, which receives the photo detection voltage 308. Ineffect, the photo detection voltage 308 imposes a gate-source voltage onthe input transistor 314; a difference in voltage between the gate andthe source. The gate of the complementary transistor 315 constitutesanother comparator input, which receives the reference signal 402. Ineffect, the reference signal 402 imposes a gate-source voltage on thecomplementary transistor 315; a difference in voltage between the sourceand the gate.

The output signal 309 of the front-end circuit 306 is of a binarynature: the output signal 309 has two possible binary values: 0 and 1.The output signal 309 is 0 if the gate-source voltage of the inputtransistor 314 exceeds the gate-source voltage of the complementarytransistor 315 by a comparator threshold level. Stated otherwise, theoutput signal 309 is 0 if there is a gate-source voltage leveldifference between the input transistor 314 and the complementarytransistor 315 that is above the comparator threshold level. Conversely,the output signal 309 is 1 if there is a gate-source voltage leveldifference between the input transistor 314 and the complementarytransistor 315 that is below the comparator threshold level.

In the front-end circuit 306 illustrated in FIG. 3, the comparatorthreshold level depends on various parameters, among which arerespective transistor threshold voltages of the input transistor 314 andthe complementary transistor 315. This will be explained in greaterdetail hereinafter. Sizing of the aforementioned transistors is anotherparameter that affects the comparator threshold level of the front-endcircuit.

The reference signal 402, which complementary transistor 315 receives atits gate, exhibits a ramp 420 during the readout time interval 414. Theramp 420 corresponds with a voltage having a level that monotonouslyincreases from a low level 421 and to a high level 422. The low level421 may correspond with, for example, signal ground. The high level 422may depend on, for example, a saturation level that the photo detectionvoltage 308 is expected to have under a strong light condition. The highlevel 422 may correspond with, for example, a level of obtained bysubtracting the saturation level from the positive supply voltage.Alternatively, the high level 422 may simply correspond with, forexample, the positive supply voltage.

At the readout start 415, the gate-source voltage of the complementarytransistor 315 is relatively large. This is because, at this instant,the gate of the complementary transistor 315 is at the low level 421 ofthe reference signal 402, whereas the source is at the positive supplyvoltage. The gate-source voltage of the input transistor 314 willtypically be smaller. For example, under normal light conditions, thephoto detection voltage 308, which is present at the gate of the inputtransistor 314, may be approximately half way between the positivesupply voltage and signal ground. The gate-source voltage leveldifference between the input transistor 314 and the complementarytransistor 315 may thus be below the comparator threshold value. Theoutput signal 309 of the front-end circuit 306 will then be 1. Since theoutput switch circuit behaves as an inverter, the binary value 0 willoccur on the readout line 302 at the readout start 415.

The gate-source voltage level difference between the input transistor314 and the complementary transistor 315 will then gradually increaseover time. This is because the level of the reference signal 402gradually increases over time according to the ramp 420 illustrated inFIG. 4. As a result, the gate-source voltage of the complementarytransistor 315 will gradually decrease. The gate-source voltage of theinput transistor 314 remains substantially constant at a levelcorresponding with the photo detection voltage 308. As long as thegate-source voltage level difference between the input transistor 314and the complementary transistor 315 remains below the comparatorthreshold value, the output signal 309 of the front-end circuit 306 willremain 1.

At a given instant, the gate-source voltage level difference between theinput transistor 314 and the complementary transistor 315 willcorrespond with the comparator threshold voltage. At that instant, theoutput signal 309 of the front-end circuit 306 exhibits a transitionfrom 1 to 0 and an inverse transition, from 0 to 1, occurs on thereadout line 302. This output transition instant depends on the level ofthe photo detection voltage 308, which in turn depends on the level ofintensity of the projected light portion to which the photodiode 310 hasbeen exposed. In this example, the more intense the projected lightportion is, the lower the level of the photo detection voltage 308 is,and the longer it will take for the output transition instant to occurwith respect to the readout start 415.

After the output transition instant, the gate-source voltage leveldifference between the input transistor 314 and the complementarytransistor 315 will continue to gradually increase over time.Consequently, this gate-source voltage level difference will be abovethe comparator threshold level after the output transition instant. Theoutput signal 309 of the front-end circuit 306 will be 0 and an inversevalue 1 will occur on the readout line 302. This binary value maycontinue to occur on the readout line 302 until the readout end 416.

The pixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 can thus present a binarypulse on the readout line 302 during the readout time interval 414. Thebinary pulse may be the inverted version of the output signal 309 fromthe front-end circuit 306, as described hereinbefore. The binary pulsemay start at the readout start 415 illustrated in FIG. 4. The binarypulse may end at the output transition instant mentioned hereinbefore. Atransition from 0 to 1 then occurs, which is an inversion of thetransition from 1 to 0 mentioned hereinbefore. The binary pulse has thusa width that is a function of the level of intensity of the projectedlight portion to which the pixel sensor 300 has been exposed. It shouldbe noted that the readout line 302 may be pre-discharged to 0 before thereadout start 415 in order to avoid so-called race conditions. Thispre-discharging can be carried out one clock cycle prior to the readoutstart 415.

Referring to FIG. 2, the conversion module 202 receives the binary pulsethat the pixel sensor 300 presents on the readout line 302. Theconversion module 202 may comprise a counter that starts a count at thereadout start 415. The counter may end this count when the transitionfrom 0 to 1 occurs, that is, at the output transition instant. Forexample, the binary value 1 on the readout line 302 may constitute acount inhibit signal for the counter.

The count that the conversion module 202 carries out can provide adigital value that represents light intensity picked up by the pixelsensor 300. More precisely, the digital value represents the level ofintensity of the projected light portion to which the photodiode 310 ofthe pixel sensor 300 has been exposed during the photo detection timeinterval 410. The conversion module 202 may then transfer this digitalvalue, which is a pixel value, to the control and interface module 203.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first variant 500 of the pixel sensor 300illustrated in FIG. 3. Like elements are denoted by like referencenumerals. For the sake of simplicity and convenience, only thoseelements that are discussed are denoted by reference numerals. In thisfirst variant, a biasing switch circuit 501 has replaced the binarydriver circuit 301 as the switchable biasing arrangement. The biasingswitch circuit 501 is coupled between the source of the input transistor314 and the signal ground line 304. It should be noted that respectivesources of respective input transistors of other pixel sensors thatbelong to the same row may also as be coupled to the signal ground line304 via the biasing switch circuit 501 illustrated in FIG. 5.

The biasing switch circuit 501 is a non conducting state during thephoto detection time interval 410. This implies that the source of theinput transistor 314 is floating during this time interval. As a result,the source will be at a voltage that approximates the voltage at thegate of the input transistor 314, which receives the photo detectionvoltage 308. The input transistor 314 is then in a disabled state, whichprevents this transistor from having a significant gate leakage currentthat discharges the photo detection node 312.

The biasing switch circuit 501 in a conducting state at least duringreadout time interval 414. The source of the input transistor 314 iscoupled to the signal ground line 304 during this time interval. Theinput transistor 314 is then in an enabled state.

The first variant 500 of the pixel sensor thus operates in a fashionsimilar to that of the pixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. Thebiasing switch circuit 501 may be put in the non-conducting state andthe conducting state by means of a gating signal 502 similar to thegating signal 403 illustrated in FIG. 4, or the inverse thereof.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second variant 600 of the pixel sensor 300illustrated in FIG. 3. Like elements are denoted by like referencenumerals. For the sake of simplicity and convenience, only thoseelements that are discussed are denoted by reference numerals. Thesecond variant 600 comprises a voltage follower circuit 601 and abiasing switch circuit 602. These elements constitute a switchablebiasing arrangement that replaces the binary driver circuit 301illustrated in FIG. 3.

The voltage follower circuit 601 provides a buffered copy 603 of thephoto detection voltage 308 on the photo detection node 312. The biasingswitch circuit 602 applies the buffered copy 603 of the photo detectionvoltage 308 to the source of the input transistor 314 during the photodetection time interval 410. The gate-source voltage of the inputtransistor 314 will then be near to zero. The buffered copy 603 of thephoto detection voltage 308 thus constitutes a disabling biasingvoltage, which puts the input transistor 314 in a disabled state. Thisprevents the input transistor 314 from producing a relatively large gateleakage current that discharges the photo detection node 312.

The biasing switch circuit 602 couples the source of the transistor tothe signal ground line 304 during the readout time interval 414. Theinput transistor 314 is then is an enabled state. The second variant 600of the pixel sensor thus also operates in a fashion similar to that ofthe pixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. The biasing switch circuit602 may be controlled by means of a gating signal 604 similar to thegating signal 403 illustrated in FIG. 4, or the inverse thereof.

FIG. 7 illustrates a third variant 700 of the pixel sensor 300illustrated in FIG. 3. Like elements are denoted by like referencenumerals. For the sake of simplicity and convenience, only thoseelements that are discussed are denoted by reference numerals. The thirdvariant 700 comprises a voltage source 701, a voltage follower circuit702, and a biasing switch circuit 703. These elements constitute aswitchable biasing arrangement that replaces the binary driver circuit301 illustrated in FIG. 3. Other pixel sensors belonging to the same rowmay also be coupled to this switchable biasing arrangement.

The voltage source 701 provides a disabling biasing voltage 704 that candisable the input transistor 314 when applied to the source of thistransistor. This disabling biasing voltage 704 can have a fixed levelthat has been optimized for obtaining a minimum level of gate leakagecurrent when this voltage is applied to the source. The disablingbiasing voltage 704 will typically approximate the reset biasingvoltage. The voltage follower circuit 702, which is optional, provides abuffered copy 705 of the disabling voltage 704. The biasing switchcircuit 703 applies the buffered copy 705 of the disabling voltage tothe source of the input transistor 314 during the photo detection timeinterval 410. This puts the input transistor 314 in a disabled state,thus preventing a relatively large gate leakage current from dischargingthe photo detection node 312 during this time interval.

The biasing switch circuit 703 couples the source of the transistor tothe signal ground line 304 during the readout time interval 414. Theinput transistor 314 is then is an enabled state. The third variant 700of the pixel sensor thus also operates in a fashion similar to that ofthe pixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. The biasing switch circuit703 may be controlled by means of a gating signal 706 similar to thegating signal 403 illustrated in FIG. 4, or the inverse thereof.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative pixel sensor 800 that may be used inthe image sensor 102 illustrated in FIG. 2. The alternative pixel sensor800 has a basic architecture similar to that of the pixel sensor 300illustrated in FIG. 3. The alternative pixel sensor 800 also comprises aphoto detector circuit 305, a front-end circuit 801, and an outputswitch circuit 307. The photo detector circuit 305 and the output switchcircuit 307 may be similar to those of the pixel sensor 300 illustratedin FIG. 3 and are therefore denoted by like reference numerals. For thesake of simplicity and convenience, only those elements that arediscussed are denoted by reference numerals.

The front-end circuit 801 of the alternative pixel sensor 800 isdifferent from that of the pixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. Thefront-end circuit 801 in FIG. 8 comprises a differential transistorcircuit that forms a comparator. The differential transistor circuit hasan input transistor 802 and an opposite input transistor 803, which arearranged as a differential pair. The differential transistor circuitfurther comprises a current mirror formed by two transistors 804, 805one of which 804 is arranged in a diode configuration. The gate of theinput transistor 802 is coupled to receive the photo detection voltage308, which is present on the photo detection node 312. The gate of theopposite input transistor 314 is coupled to receive a reference signal806, which may be similar to the reference signal 402 illustrated inFIG. 4. The front-end circuit 801 illustrated in FIG. 8 may provide anoutput signal 807 that is similar to that of the front-end circuit 300illustrated in FIG. 3. That is, the output signal 807 comprises a binarypulse that has a width, or rather duration, indicative of the amount oflight to which the photo detector circuit 305 has been exposed.

The alternative pixel sensor 800 comprises a controllable current source808 that is coupled to the differential transistor circuit. Thecontrollable current source 808 is disabled during the photo detectiontime interval 410. This puts the input transistor 802 in a disabledstate, thus preventing a relatively large gate leakage current fromdischarges the photo detection node 312 during this time interval. Thecontrollable current source 808 is enabled at least during the readouttime interval 414, causing the front-end circuit 802 to provide theoutput signal 807 described hereinbefore. The controllable currentsource 808 may be controlled by means of a gating signal 809 similar tothe gating signal 403 illustrated in FIG. 4, or the inverse thereof.

FIGS. 9 to 11 illustrate various variants of the alternative pixelsensor 800. These variants comprise an additional arrangement forapplying a disabling biasing voltage to the source of the inputtransistor 802 during the photo detection time interval 410. Likeelements are denoted by like reference numerals. For the sake ofsimplicity and convenience, only those elements that are discussed aredenoted by reference numerals.

FIG. 9 illustrates a first variant 900 in which the additionalarrangement comprises a binary driver circuit 901. The binary drivercircuit 901 is in the form of a PMOS transistor, whereas thecontrollable current source 808 is in the form of an NMOS transistor.The drain of the PMOS transistor is coupled to the source of the inputtransistor 802, as well as to the controllable current source 808. ThePMOS transistor can be put in an active, saturated state during thephoto detection time interval 410. A voltage close to the positive powersupply voltage is then imposed on the source of the input transistor 802during this time interval. To that end, a gating signal 902 similar tothe gating signal 403 illustrated in FIG. 4 may be applied to the gateof the PMOS transistor.

FIG. 10 illustrates a second variant 1000 in which the additionalarrangement comprises a voltage follower circuit 1001 and a biasingswitch circuit 1002. This arrangement operates in a fashion similar tothat described with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 illustrates a third variant 1100 in which the additionalarrangement comprises a voltage source 1101, a voltage follower circuit1102 and a biasing switch circuit 1103. This arrangement operates in afashion similar to that described with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 illustrates a pixel sensor 1200 of a different type to which agate leakage current reduction technique is applied similar to thatdescribed hereinbefore. The pixel sensor 1200 illustrated in FIG. 12 isan analog type pixel sensor that provides an analog readout signal. Thepixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 12 will be referred to as analogpixel sensor 1200 hereinafter for reasons of convenience. The analogpixel sensor 1200 illustrated in FIG. 12 can be used in an image sensorthat is somewhat different from the image sensor 102 illustrated in FIG.2 and described hereinbefore. For example, several analog pixel sensors,which may be on a same row, or on a same column, can be coupled to ananalog to digital conversion module that converts an analog readoutsignal from such a pixel sensor into a digital value.

The analog pixel sensor 1200 comprises a photo detector circuit 305, afront-end circuit 1201, and an output switch circuit 1202, which is abasic architecture similar to that of the pixel sensor 300 illustratedin FIG. 3. The photo detector circuit 305 may be similar to that of thepixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 and has therefore been assigned asame reference numeral. The photo detector circuit 305 thus provides aphoto detection voltage 308 on a photo detection node 312. For the sakeof simplicity and convenience, only those elements that are discussedare denoted by reference numerals.

The front-end circuit 1201 of the analog pixel sensor 1200 is notablydifferent. The front-end circuit 1201 is an analog buffer that comprisesa CMOS transistor in a so-called source follower configuration. Theanalog buffer provides an output voltage 1203 that is a buffered copy ofthe photo detection voltage 308. The output voltage 1203 correspondswith the photo detection voltage 308 on which a gate-source voltagedifferential is superposed. This gate source-voltage differentialdepends on a threshold voltage of the CMOS transistor. The CMOStransistor comprises a biasing node 1204 though which a biasing voltage1205 is applied to a well in which the CMOS transistor is formed.

The analog pixel sensor 1200 comprises a switchable biasing arrangementthat puts the CMOS transistor in a disabled state during a photodetection time interval 410. The switchable biasing arrangementcomprises a voltage follower circuit 1206 and a biasing switch circuit1207. This switchable biasing arrangement operates in a fashion similarto that described hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 6. Briefly stated,the switchable biasing arrangement applies a buffered copy 1208 of thephoto detection voltage 308 to the source of the CMOS transistor duringthe photo detection time interval 410. The buffered copy 1208constitutes a disabling biasing voltage, which prevents the CMOStransistor from producing a significant gate leakage current.

FIG. 13 illustrates a variant 1300 of the analog pixel sensor. Thisvariant 1300 comprises a switchable biasing arrangement different fromthat of the analog pixel sensor 1200 illustrated in FIG. 12. Theswitchable biasing arrangement of the variant comprises a voltage source1301, a voltage follower circuit 1302, and a biasing switch circuit1303. This switchable biasing arrangement operates in a fashion similarto that described hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 6.

Turning again to the pixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3, processvariations, which are inherent to semiconductor manufacturing, maypotentially impair a proper functioning of this pixel sensor 300. Inparticular, there may be significant variations in transistor thresholdvoltages from, for example, one batch to another, from one silicon waferto another, and even from one silicon die to another. As a result, theremay be significant variations in the comparator threshold level of thefront-end circuit 306 described hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 3.

The comparator threshold value of a specimen of the pixel sensor 300illustrated in FIG. 3 may deviate from a desired nominal value to arelatively large extent. This deviation may cause a reduction in dynamicrange, which can be significant. In a worst-case situation, thisdeviation may be so large that the aforementioned gate-source voltagelevel difference between the input transistor 314 and the complementarytransistor 315 remains below the comparator threshold level throughoutthe readout time interval 414, even under relatively strong lightconditions. In such a worst-case situation, the pixel sensor 300 willfunction poorly and may even turn out to be useless. This equallyapplies to the variants illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment 1400 of the biasing circuit mentionedhereinbefore, which can alleviate problems due to process variations asdescribed hereinbefore. This embodiment is schematically represented ina circuit diagram and will be referred to as the biasing circuit 1400hereinafter for reasons of convenience. The biasing circuit 1400generates the well biasing voltage 320, which is applied to the well 318of the complementary transistor 315 through the biasing line 319 asillustrated in FIG. 3. This well biasing voltage 320 can also be appliedto respective wells of other complementary transistors of other pixelsensors in the image sensor 102 illustrated in FIG. 2. That is, theentire matrix of pixel sensors 201 may receive the well biasing voltage320.

The biasing circuit 1400 comprises a replica 1401 of the front-endcircuit 306 illustrated in FIG. 3. The biasing circuit 1400 thuscomprises a replica input transistor 1402 and a replica complementarytransistor 1403, each having a gate, a source and a drain. Similarly,the respective drains are coupled to each other and constitute an outputnode 1404 of the replica 1401 of the front-end circuit. The replicacomplementary transistor 1403 is also formed in a well 1405. This well1405 receives the same well biasing voltage 320 as the well 318 of thecomplementary transistor 315 in the front-end circuit 306 illustrated inFIG. 3.

The gate of the replica input transistor 1402 receives an input voltage1406 that represents the photo detection voltage 308 under a given lightcondition. More specifically, the input voltage 1406 may correspond witha level that the photo detection voltage 308 will typically have at thereadout start 415 under this given light condition. This given lightcondition may be, for example, total dark. In that case, there is nodischarge and the photo detection voltage 308 will typically remain atthe reset biasing voltage. The input voltage 1406 that the gate of thereplica input transistor 1402 receives can then correspond with thereset biasing voltage.

The gate of the replica complementary transistor 1403 receives an inputvoltage 1407 corresponding with a particular level of the ramp 420 inthe reference signal 402 illustrated in FIG. 4. At this particularlevel, the output signal 309 of the front-end circuit 306 illustrated inFIG. 3 should exhibit the transition from 1 to 0 under the given lightcondition mentioned hereinbefore. For example, in case the given lightcondition is total dark, the transition from 1 to 0 should occur at thereadout start 415 when the ramp 420 is at the low level 421.Consequently, in that case, the input voltage 1407 that the gate of thereplica complementary transistor 1403 receives can then correspond withthe low level 421 of the ramp 420 illustrated in FIG. 4.

The biasing circuit 1400 further comprises an amplifier 1408 that has apair of differential inputs 1409, 1410 and an output 1411. The pair ofdifferential inputs comprises a non-inverting input 1409 that is coupledto the output node 1404 of the replica 1401 of the front-end circuit. Aninverting input 1410 receives a set point voltage 1412. The set pointvoltage 1412 may be half way between the positive supply voltage andsignal ground, that is, the set point level may be half the positivepower supply voltage. The output 1409 of the amplifier 1408 is coupledto the well 1405 of the replica complementary transistor 1403 in thereplica 1401 of the front-end circuit. The amplifier 1408 may be in theform of, for example, a differential transistor pair that is coupled toa current mirror.

In the biasing circuit 1400, the replica 1401 of the front-end circuitand the amplifier 1408 form a control loop that operates as follow. Theamplifier 1408 compares an output voltage 1403 at the output node 1404of the replica 1401 of the front-end circuit with the set point voltage1412. In case the output voltage 1403 is higher than the set pointvoltage 1412, the amplifier 1408 increases the well biasing voltage 320that the replica complementary transistor 1405 receives. This causes theoutput voltage 1413 to decrease, which is a change toward the set pointvoltage 1412. Conversely, in case the output voltage 1413 is lower thanthe set point voltage 1412, the amplifier 1408 decreases the wellbiasing voltage 320. This causes the output voltage 1413 to increase,which is also a change toward the set point voltage 1412.

In a steady-state condition, the output voltage 1413 of the replica 1401of the front-end circuit will be equal to the set point voltage 1412,apart from an offset voltage that may exist between the pair ofdifferential inputs 1409, 1410 of the amplifier 1408. The steady-statecondition corresponds with a center point in the transition from 1 to 0that occurs in the readout time interval 414. The control loop controlsthe well biasing voltage 320 so that this transition occurs at theparticular level of the ramp 420 in the reference signal 402 under thegiven light condition.

In effect, the biasing circuit 1400 calibrates the replica 1401 of thefront-end circuit by means of the well biasing voltage 320. Thiscalibration counters variations in the comparator threshold value, whichcould otherwise be significant as a result of production spread asexplained hereinbefore.

The aforementioned calibration is, in effect, transposed to thefront-end circuit 306 of the pixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3, aswell as to other front-end circuits of other pixel sensors in the imagesensor 102 illustrated in FIG. 2. This transposition is achieved byapplying the well biasing voltage 320 that the biasing circuit 1400generates to these front-end circuits. The transposition has aneffectiveness that depends on a matching of transistor thresholdvoltages in the replica 1401 with those in the pixel sensor 300 to whichthe well biasing voltage 320 is applied. The lesser such a mismatch is,the greater the effectiveness of the transposition.

In order to improve the aforementioned matching of transistor thresholdvoltages, and thus to improve calibration effectiveness throughout theimage sensor 102, the biasing circuit 1400 may comprise a parallelarrangement of several replicas of the front-end circuit 306. Thisparallel arrangement provides an averaging effect that reduces themismatch. Referring to FIG. 13, the replica 1401 of the front-endcircuit may thus be replaced by several replicas of the front-endcircuit 306 arranged in parallel.

A calibration similar to that described hereinbefore may also be appliedto the analog pixel sensor 1200 illustrated in FIG. 12, as well as tothe variant 1300 illustrated in FIG. 13. As mentioned hereinbefore, theanalog pixel sensor 1200 provides a buffered copy 1208 of the photodetection voltage 308, on which the gate-source voltage differential ofthe CMOS transistor is superposed. This gate source-voltage differentialdepends on a threshold voltage of the CMOS transistor. Problems due toprocess variations as described hereinbefore may thus also occur inimage sensors comprising analog pixel sensors, such as the oneillustrated in FIG. 12.

A biasing circuit for the analog pixel sensor 1200 illustrated in FIG.12 may comprise a replica of the analog buffer to which an input voltageis applied that is a substitute of the photo detection voltage 308. Thisinput voltage has a defined level, which may correspond with a levelthat the photo detection voltage 308 may have for a given amount oflight. The biasing circuit may further comprise a control loop thatcontrols a biasing voltage that is applied to the well of the CMOStransistor in the replica. The control loop controls this well biasingvoltage so that the replica of the analog buffer provides a definedoutput voltage.

Notes

The detailed description hereinbefore with reference to the drawings ismerely an illustration of the invention and the additional features,which are defined in the claims. The invention can be implemented innumerous different ways. In order to illustrate this, some alternativesare briefly indicated.

The invention may be applied to advantage in numerous types of productsor methods related to image acquisition. The term “pixel sensor” shouldbe understood in a broad sense. The term may embrace any arrangementcapable of providing an electrical output signal indicative of aphysical phenomenon, which may be, for example, light, heat, aphenomenon of a chemical nature, a biological nature. In fact, any typeof transducer may constitute a pixel sensor within the meaning of thisapplication. Referring to the embodiments described hereinbefore, thephoto diode may be replaced by another type of transducer, such as, forexample, a so-called ChemFET, ISFET, and so on. The term “front-endcircuit” should also be understood in a broad sense. The term mayembrace any circuit capable of providing an output signal indicative ofthe physical phenomenon concerned in response to a detection quantitythat the pixel sensor provides.

There are numerous different circuit technologies to which the inventioncan be applied. The invention describes, by way of example, certainembodiments that concern CMOS technology. As another example, theinvention can be applied to silicon on insulator (SOI) technologies. Ina partially-depleted SOI technology, a biasing voltage that countersthreshold variations can be applied to a thick doped channel below thegate of a transistor. In a fully-depleted SOI technology, such a biasingvoltage can be applied to a lightly doped well, which is separated froma non-doped channel, below the gate, by a thin buried oxide layer. Inthese examples, as well as in the embodiments presented hereinbefore,the biasing voltage is applied to a semiconductor region that affectsthe threshold voltage of the transistor.

There are numerous different ways of implementing a front-end circuit inaccordance with the invention. For example, a front-end circuit may havea PMOS transistor as an input transistor, and an NMOS transistor as acomplementary transistor. Such an NMOS/PMOS inversion can be applied toother embodiments presented hereinbefore. Control signals may be adaptedaccordingly. For example, a reference signal that is applied to acomparator for converting an analog value into a binary pulse maycomprise a negative ramp, which decreases in level over time.

There are numerous different ways of generating and applying a biasingvoltage that counters threshold variations in accordance with theinvention. For example, in a further variant of the pixel sensor 300illustrated in FIG. 3, the input transistor 314 may be formed in aP-well using, for example, triple-well technology. In that case, abiasing voltage may be applied to this well instead of the N-well of thecomplementary transistor 315. It is also possible to counter thresholdvariations by means of two biasing voltages, one of which is applied tothe N-well of the complementary transistor 315, the other biasingvoltage being applied to the P-well of the input transistor 314.

There are numerous different ways of implementing a biasing circuit inaccordance with the invention. For example, referring to FIG. 14, theamplifier 1408 may be replaced by a comparator circuit, a digitalcontrol circuit, and a digital-to-analog converter. The digital controlcircuit may receive a comparison result from the comparator circuit, onthe basis of which the digital control circuit controls thedigital-to-analog converter, which provides the biasing voltage. Thedigital control circuit adjusts the biasing voltage by controlling thedigital-to-analog converter so as to achieve a steady-state condition inwhich the output voltage of the replica is sufficiently close to the setpoint voltage.

It should be noted that a calibrating biasing scheme has been describedthat can be used in devices other than image sensors. In fact, thecalibrating biasing scheme can in principle be applied to any type ofcircuit that provides an input-output relationship, which is affected bya threshold voltage of a transistor within the circuit. Broadly defined,the biasing scheme consists in providing a replica of the circuitconcerned and a calibrating control loop. The calibrating control loopcalibrates the input-output relationship of the replica by means of abiasing voltage, which is applied to a semiconductor region that affectsthe threshold voltage of the transistor concerned. This biasing voltageis then also applied to the circuit, or the circuits, on which thereplica is based.

It should be noted that a dynamic calibration scheme can also improveimage quality. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the dynamic calibrationscheme can operate as follows. After the readout time interval 414illustrated in FIG. 4, a subsequent reset time interval occurs. Thereset biasing voltage is again enforced on the photo detection node 312by putting the reset transistor 311 in the conducting state. Thesubsequent reset interval is then followed by a relatively short pseudophoto detection time interval. In this time interval, the resettransistor 311 is in the non conducting state, like in the photodetection time interval 410 illustrated in FIG. 4 describedhereinbefore. The photo current, if present, from the photo diode 310may thus discharge the photo detection node 312. However, any suchdischarge will be relatively brief because the pseudo photo detectiontime interval is relatively short. The pseudo photo detection timeinterval is quickly followed by a subsequent readout time interval.

In the subsequent readout time interval, which follows the relativelyshort pseudo photo detection time interval, the pixel sensor 300operates as in the readout time interval 414 described hereinbefore indetail with reference to FIG. 4. The pixel sensor 300 will thus presenta binary pulse on the readout line 302. In this case, the binary pulserepresents a dark level or, rather, a near-to-dark level in case thephoto diode 310 is exposed to light during the pseudo photo detectiontime interval. The binary pulse may thus be considered as a referencepulse, in contrast with the binary pulse that the pixel sensor 300provides in the readout time interval 414 following the “real” photodetection time interval 410. The latter pulse constitutes a photodetection pulse that is destined to be converted into a pixel value.

The conversion module 202 illustrated in FIG. 2 can provide a correctedpixel value on the basis of the photo detection pulse and the referencepulse obtained as described hereinbefore. For example, the conversionmodule 202 may generate a reference value by means of the countermentioned hereinbefore. A count of the reference pulse provides thereference value, just like the count of the photo detection pulseprovides a gross pixel value, as described hereinbefore. The conversionmodule 202 may then subtract the reference value from the gross pixelvalue so as to obtain the corrected pixel value.

The dynamic calibration scheme is thus characterized by photo detectioncycles and reference definition cycles that are interleaved. Thesecycles are similar in structure: a reset time interval, followed by aphoto detection time interval, followed by a readout time interval asillustrated in FIG. 4. However, the photo detection time interval of aphoto detection cycle is relatively long, whereas the photo detectiontime interval of a reference definition cycle is relatively short. Asmentioned hereinbefore, the latter photo detection time interval is apseudo photo detection time interval, which may cover a single clockcycle only, for example, whereas the real photo detection time intervalmay cover 100 to 1000 clock cycles. In a reference definition cycle, apixel sensor provides an output signal, which is a binary pulse in thisexample, which can serve as a dark level reference. In the photodetection cycle, the pixel sensor provides an output signal thatrepresents an amount of light, which can be detected relativelyprecisely with reference to the dark level reference.

It should be noted that an image sensor in accordance with the inventionneed not necessarily comprise a shutter arrangement. That is, a pixelsensor such as the pixel sensor illustrated in FIG. 3 may continuouslybe exposed to light. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 this implies that thephoto diode 310 may continue to discharge the photo detection node 312after the photo detection time interval 410. In case the readout timeinterval 414 is relatively short compared with the photo detection timeinterval 410, this continued discharge during the readout time interval414 affects the photo detection voltage 308 to a relatively small extentonly. For example, the readout time interval 414 may cover a singleclock cycle only, whereas the photo detection time interval 410 maycover 100 to 1000 clock cycles. The photo detection time interval 410can be adapted in this duration range depending on an amount of light towhich the pixel sensor 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 is exposed. The ramp420 will be relatively steep if the readout interval 414 is relativelyshort, which is different from what is very schematically illustrated inFIG. 4. An embodiment without a shutter arrangement can be advantageousin terms of, for example, low cost and low power consumption. Namely, anelement that has a certain cost and power consumption is dispensed with.

In general, there are numerous different ways of implementing theinvention, whereby different implementations may have differenttopologies. In any given topology, a single module may carry out severalfunctions, or several modules may jointly carry out a single function.In this respect, the drawings are very diagrammatic.

The remarks made hereinbefore demonstrate that the detailed descriptionwith reference to the drawings is an illustration of the inventionrather than a limitation. The invention can be implemented in numerousalternative ways that are within the scope of the appended claims. Allchanges that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope. Any reference sign in aclaim should not be construed as limiting the claim. The word“comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or stepsthan those listed in a claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an elementor step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements orsteps. The mere fact that respective dependent claims define respectiveadditional features, does not exclude combinations of additionalfeatures other than those reflected in the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An image sensor, comprising: a photodetector circuit arranged to provide a detection quantity having a levelthat depends on an amount of light to which the photo detector circuithas been exposed during a photo detection time interval; a front-endcircuit arranged to provide an output signal indicative of the amount oflight in response to at least one input signal, among which is thedetection quantity, the front-end circuit comprising a transistor havinga threshold voltage that affects a relationship between the outputsignal and the level of the detection quantity, and a biasing nodeapplying a biasing voltage to a semiconductor region that affects thethreshold voltage of the transistor; a biasing circuit comprising areplica of the front-end circuit coupled to receive at least one definedinput signal, among which is a substitute of the detection quantityhaving a defined level, the replica being arranged in a control loopadapted to control the biasing voltage that is applied to the biasingnode in the replica, so that the replica provides a defined outputsignal, the biasing circuit being arranged to apply the biasing voltageto the biasing node in the front-end circuit.
 2. An image sensoraccording to claim 1, wherein: the front-end circuit comprises acomparator having an input node coupled to receive the detectionquantity, and a complementary input node being coupled to receive a rampsignal, so that the output signal comprises a binary transition at aninstant indicative of the amount of light, the replica of the front-endcircuit comprises a replica of the comparator coupled to receive at itscomplementary input node a level of the ramp signal at the instant whenthe binary transition should occur in the output signal, given thedefined level of the substitute of the detection quantity at its inputnode.
 3. An image sensor according to claim 2, wherein the defined levelof the substitute of the detection quantity corresponds with a level ofthe detection quantity that the photo detector circuit provides directlyfollowing a reset of the photo detector circuit.
 4. An image sensoraccording to claim 3, wherein the complementary input node of thereplica of the comparator is coupled to receive a starting level of theramp signal.
 5. An image sensor according to claim 2, wherein thecomparator comprises two transistors arranged in series between a pairof power supply lines, one of the two transistors having a control nodecorresponding with the input node, the other transistor having a controlnode corresponding with the complementary input node.
 6. An image sensoraccording to claim 5, wherein at least one of the two transistorscomprises the biasing node applying the biasing voltage to thesemiconductor region that affects the threshold voltage of thetransistor concerned.
 7. An image sensor according to claim 5, whereinone of the two transistors is a field effect transistor of one of thefollowing types, N-type and P-type, formed in a well in one of thefollowing types: P-type and N-type, respectively, whereby the well formsthe semiconductor region that affects the threshold voltage of the fieldeffect transistor.
 8. An image sensor according to claim 2, wherein thedefined output signal, which the control loop causes the replica offront-end circuit to provide, corresponds with a level in between a highlevel and a low level that delimit the binary transition in the outputsignal.
 9. An image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the controlloop is coupled to receive a supply voltage that exceeds a supplyvoltage for the front-end circuit.
 10. An image sensor according toclaim 1, wherein the control loop comprises a differential amplifierhaving: a differential input node coupled to receive the output signalof the replica of the front-end circuit; another differential inputnode, which is of opposite sign, coupled to receive a set point levelcorresponding with the defined output signal; and an output coupled tothe biasing node within the replica, as well as to the biasing nodewithin the front-end circuit.
 11. An image sensor according to claim 1,wherein the biasing circuit comprises a parallel arrangement of severalreplicas of the front-end circuit.
 12. An image acquisition device,comprising an image sensor according to claim 1.